The event took place during Peace Corps Week to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the agency.
by Sophie McNamee, Communications Specialist
The Peace Corps is proud to highlight a recent event at Fordham University, where returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) shared powerful stories of service and impact across the globe.
Hosted by Fordham’s International Political Economy and Development (IPED) program on March 5, the event marked both Peace Corps Week and the organization’s 65th anniversary. Students, faculty and RPCVs came together to reflect on the value of international service, with volunteers sharing experiences from countries including Fiji, Ecuador and Kenya. Their stories accentuated the importance of cultural exchange, community relations and sustainable development.
The event also served as an important opportunity to reintroduce Peace Corps service to undergraduate students and encourage future participation.
“It’s really to promote the Peace Corps to the undergrads,” said Donna Odra, associate director for IPED. “Over the years, especially throughout COVID, they had to close down, and now they’re trying to ramp up operations, and I think this is a good time to promote [the] Peace Corps, to explore it as an alternative option after graduating from Fordham.”
Volunteers highlighted the noticeable impact of their work abroad through personal experiences. Sydney Clapham, a returned volunteer from Fiji, reflected on helping a local entrepreneur build a successful business.
“Now she’s got this thriving business, and it continues to grow and grow, and I’m so, so thankful that I got to be a part of building that,” Clapham said.
In addition to community impact, speakers stressed the lasting personal and professional benefits of service. Programs such as the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program were highlighted as key opportunities that support returned volunteers in pursuing graduate education and continuing their allegiance to service.
As the Peace Corps continues to rebuild and expand following pandemic-related disruptions, outreach efforts like this play a vital role in reconnecting with students and encouraging the next generation of volunteers.
“Hopefully they think about serving,” Odra said. “It could be with Peace Corps… but for them to know that there is value in living overseas and helping populations overseas.”
Events like this draw attention to the broader significance of global service at a time when cross-cultural understanding and community-based solutions are more critical than ever. By engaging students early and sharing real stories of impact, the Peace Corps continues to cultivate future leaders committed to service, collaboration and significant change around the world.